Ratings and Reviews

4.5 out of 5

36 Ratings

36 Ratings

ssviland
,01/08/2008

Goes to show...

I din't think I would ever rate a collection of movie songs with five stars, but this collection shows how many excellent tunes were scattered among the muck that even Elvis detested. Of course, the first six tracks are pre-Army songs, when both Elvis' music AND movies were all good. The next seven are from the first two years after the Army when, although movies weren't all that good, the music still was, as Elvis hadn't given in to the Col. Parker machine yet. The next couple of dozen contain a few lemons, but even those demonstrate Elvis' talent for mining some gold our of dross. "Do The Clam" is embarrassing, but it was a minor hit. "Little Egypt" should have been a perfect vehicle for the King, but amidst the whirlwind of films and film soundtracks done in the mid-60s, often three each year, this version lacks passion of Elvis' early and later work.The end of the album offers a handful of works that show a rejuvenated Elvis, following his 1968 comeback, with renewed energy and passion. "A Little Less Conversation," "Clean Up Your Own Backyard," and "Rubberneckin'" were all among his best-kept secrets until two of them were remixed several years ago. At that time, the movie contracts were winding down and he could see the light at the end of the tunnel, with a successful Las Vegas engagement and subsequent national tour on the horizon.It makes one think, "What would Elvis have done, creatively, if the movies had not dominated his career from 1962 to 1968." He might have actually made less money, as movie soundtracks such as "Blue Hawaii" actually sold better than blues/R&B/Pop masterpieces such as 1960s "Elvis is Back," but the latter is what anyone with taste will listen to today.With the exception of his movie music from the 50s, which is all very good or excellent, we can discard most of his movie catalog from the 60s and a compilation such as this will suffice.

ssviland
,01/08/2008

Goes to show...

I din't think I would ever rate a collection of movie songs with five stars, but this collection shows how many excellent tunes were scattered among the muck that even Elvis detested. Of course, the first six tracks are pre-Army songs, when both Elvis' music AND movies were all good. The next seven are from the first two years after the Army when, although movies weren't all that good, the music still was, as Elvis hadn't given in to the Col. Parker machine yet. The next couple of dozen contain a few lemons, but even those demonstrate Elvis' talent for mining some gold our of dross. "Do The Clam" is embarrassing, but it was a minor hit. "Little Egypt" should have been a perfect vehicle for the King, but amidst the whirlwind of films and film soundtracks done in the mid-60s, often three each year, this version lacks passion of Elvis' early and later work.The end of the album offers a handful of works that show a rejuvenated Elvis, following his 1968 comeback, with renewed energy and passion. "A Little Less Conversation," "Clean Up Your Own Backyard," and "Rubberneckin'" were all among his best-kept secrets until two of them were remixed several years ago. At that time, the movie contracts were winding down and he could see the light at the end of the tunnel, with a successful Las Vegas engagement and subsequent national tour on the horizon.It makes one think, "What would Elvis have done, creatively, if the movies had not dominated his career from 1962 to 1968." He might have actually made less money, as movie soundtracks such as "Blue Hawaii" actually sold better than blues/R&B/Pop masterpieces such as 1960s "Elvis is Back," but the latter is what anyone with taste will listen to today.With the exception of his movie music from the 50s, which is all very good or excellent, we can discard most of his movie catalog from the 60s and a compilation such as this will suffice.